Edge of Insanity

My Weight Loss Journey - Hello Yo-Yo!

It's been a while since I've posted an update, and I have to say that this is a hard one to write -- but it must be done.

So what happened that was so terrible that I didn't want to talk about it? Well, I gained a pound or two back. I know exactly why and when it happened, and gaining that pound or two might not seem like a lot to some people, but when you're actively trying to lose weight, you definitely notice. You start feeling bloated again, and you know can tell by the way clothes fit. Now that I know I have gained back a pound, I am desperately trying to lose it again.

I have also noticed that I am hitting the yo-yo effect - gaining and losing weight. When I noticed I gained weight, I felt like a failure. Seriously, I felt like I had let myself down. I was upset with my myself, allowing the weight gain to happen. Then I realized that while yes, I had made a mistake in my diet, it gives me a chance to start again and work even harder.

Am I upset that I gain a few pounds? Absolutely! But do I let it get me down? Nope! I will just try and try again. I know I can lose this weight - it will just take a little more will-power and a lot more belief that I can do it.

Fancy Pants Poetry by Agostino Scafidi

I rarely talk about poetry on the blog - mainly because poetry is subjective and I don't want to offend anyone. But in general, I love poetry. I used to write some back in my teens years, though they have now been lost for years.

So when I was asked to review Fancy Pants Poetry by Agostino Scafidi, I was a little hesitant. Would I enjoy it? Would I even know what he was talking about? The short answer? Yes. Most of his poems I understood, though some were a little hard for me to grasp. But after spending a day reading his book, I even found myself bookmarking certain ones because they resonated with me on an personal level. His prose and descriptions made the words stand out in a way I haven't seen in new poetry for a long time.

My absolutely favorite one was full of emotion that caught me off guard - but in a good way. Titled Death or Rebirth?, it's about letting a circumstance either take you down or making you stronger and better. If you think about it, we have all been in situations where we were unsure if we should just give in or fight.

While it Fancy Pants Poetry can be described as dark and sarcastic, it has a raw beauty in the way he allows you to see into his soul... in a way. I believe poetry is the best way to illuminate your thinking into the world and everyone sees something different.

I liked it -- plain and simple.

If you're interested, you can see samples of Fancy Pants Poetry.

FREE Julep Maven St. Patrick's Day box!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

This is a monthly subscription, but you may cancel at any time.

Lucky You! If you have been waiting for the perfect time to become a Julep Maven, now is the time! The St. Patrick's Day Welcome Box is FREE for new subscribers and it includes three "pinch proof" nail colors, a fan favorite beauty product and even a fun sheet of nail decals bringing the value of the box to $58 - just pay $2.99 shipping.

A Maven beauty box subscription is one of the best values going and as a Julep Maven subscriber, you get first access to trend setting colors and top-rated beauty products every month.

Julep Maven is affordable. Every month you get more than $40 of full-size products for just $24.99 per month (tip - prepay for three months at a time and save $15).
Julep Maven is the only customizable box of full-size, limited-run nail colors and beauty innovations. That means no surprises, no dupes or colors you don't like. You can see what is in your box each month and have the option of swapping out colors/products you already have or don't want.
Julep Maven is flexible. You can gift your box to a friend or even say "I'm out this month" if you want to (after you have purchased at least one full priced month).
Julep Mavens get 20% off all single product purchases, free shipping, early access to secret sales. If you are passionate about your polish, that adds up to some amazing savings!

Become a Maven by March 9th to get this welcome box before St. Patrick's Day! Join Maven and get the St. Patrick's Day Welcome Box FREE ($58 value) - just pay $2.99 shipping with code PINCHME.

Curvy Girl's Spring Outfit under $150!

I love spring - for a variety of reasons, and one of them being that I can buy new clothes so I can retire last year's. But this year, I only have $150 to spend. Think I can create a outfit that every curvy girl will love and keep it under $150? I think I did!

BKE racerback tank top / Old Navy plus size stretch jeans / maurices Plus Size - Chevron Stripe Blanket Cardigan With Fringe / Charlotte Russe neon ballet flat

The tank top is only $18, the jeans are only $57, the cardigan is only $39, and the flats are only $23 with a total amount of $137! Maybe I can find me a cute handbag at Walmart to go with this outfit. (I just love the shoes!)

What color will you be wearing this spring?

Blogging Trick: Who Likes Your FB Page?

For the longest time, I've been trying to figure out who likes my Facebook page, especially when it comes to verifying giveaway entries. For a long time, Facebook allowed you to see who liked your page, but that is no longer the case.

I discovered a neat little trick somewhere you can see those who like your Facebook page without stressing out. I can't remember exactly where I learned it, but I'll try to find it!

NOTE: Before we get started, you will notice that names and pictures have been blocked out. This is to protect everyone's identity!

Step 1. Type in "people who like PAGENAME".

Step 1. Go to the Facebook homepage, and in the search box, type "people who like PAGENAME". Chance PAGENAME to your page name.

Step 2. Click on See More.

Step 2. You will be taken to a page that shows you, a friend, and the page's posts below. You see see a link that says See More just above you and your friend's information. Click on See More.

You should be taken to a page that lists people who like your page.

Voila! You now have a list of the friends and people who like your page! Unfortunately, there is no way to search for a certain person to see if they like your page. Until Facebook allows that, this is probably the quickest way to search for likes on your page.

This is very helpful for verifying people for giveaways or verifying it for other reasons. But be a responsible blogger - don't abuse it!

Accepting Guest Posts for #MentalHealthAwareness Month!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and since a family member suffers from a mental illness (General Anxiety Disorder), I thought it would be a great time to spend most of May focusing on mental health awareness with interviews, ways to help, and I am even trying to plan a Twitter party/discussion so people can talk about their experiences.

With that being said, I am now accepting guest posts for May. As of the moment, there are only 2 spots available on the following topics:

How you can help bring more awareness.
How to cope when you (or someone you love) suffers.
Experience with mental illness.
Keeping your mind healthy (and how it relates to mental illness).

The deadline to submit your post is May 23rd, but please try to submit it by May 15th (so there is more time to promote it during the month).

If you're interested in doing a guest post for May, please fill out this form.

Now that we've got that out of the way, we are also trying to plan a Twitter party. If you're interested in being part of the Twitter party crew (or want to sponsor a prize), please e-mail me. I could use all the help I can get!

Celebrate your inner Irish! #StPatricksDay

I've said it once, and I will say it again - I am part Irish. But I am proud of the Irish part in me! I may have other heritages (like German and Polish) as part of my ancestry, but the Irish side seems to come out more. So when St. Patrick's Day rolls around, you can bet that I get excited!

But how does someone celebrate their Irish side? First off, drinking until you're drunk does not make you Irish. It makes you drunk. But there are plenty of cocktail recipes made from authentic Irish whiskey that will make any Irish want to celebrate in moderation! The Michael Collins Honeysuckle from Liquor.com brings out the Irish whiskey's sweetness. It looks so good, I might have to try it. If it's still cold by the time March 17th rolls around, you could always try out this Hot Toddy recipe!

Gammon (Ham) Steaks with Whiskey Sauce

Every celebrate needs food - or at least I thought so. Instead of dying everything green and calling it a St. Patrick's Day feast, why not give actual Irish dishes a shot? Forget the corned beef and cabbage - it is usually reserved for Halloween in Ireland. If you want to try a really good Irish dish, I suggest the Gammon (Ham) Steaks with Whiskey Sauce, Irish Champ, or Irish Apple Cake (if you're wanting something a little sweet).

Create a "LUCKY" pennant banner made from paint chips!

What's a celebration without decoration? This year, I plan on my wearing my new clover t-shirt and putting up a nice big green shamrock I picked up a few years ago. If you don't want your decor to appear tacky, I would skip the leprechauns, pots of gold, and rainbows. Go with clovers/shamrocks and the Irish flag instead. It looks more authentic.

The Quiet Man feat. John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara

Not into the whole St. Patrick's Day revelry thing? I don't blame you! Since St. Patrick's Day is kind of a religious holiday, you could always go to Mass, spend the day watching some Irish movies, or listening to Irish music. Here are some suggestions for Irish movies and Irish music.

No matter how you celebrate your inner Irish (or your Irish heritage), be safe, have fun, and do everything in moderation!

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